Acing Video Interviews: Tips for Zoom and Beyond

Video interviews have become a mainstream part of the hiring process – and they’re likely here to stay. Whether it’s a Zoom call with your potential boss, a Microsoft Teams panel interview, or a pre-recorded one-way interview via a specialized platform, being able to interview effectively on camera is a crucial skill. The good news? Many principles of traditional interviewing still apply. The challenge? There are unique factors in video interviews – technology, environment, camera presence – that you need to master to truly ace it.

Fear not! With preparation and these tips, you can turn video interviews into opportunities to shine. Let’s dive into how to handle everything from Zoom interviews to any virtual format with confidence.

Prepare Your Tech (Well in Advance)

Technical glitches are the quickest way to derail your focus and confidence in a video interview. While not every hiccup is avoidable, you can greatly reduce the chances with some upfront prep:

• Test your internet connection where you plan to take the call. If possible, use a wired Ethernet connection for stability. If on Wi-Fi, ensure your signal is strong. If your connection is spotty, consider alternatives (could you take the call from a friend’s place or a coworking space with better net?).
• Check your computer/device: Update Zoom/Teams/Skype/etc. to the latest version before the interview day. A day or two prior, launch the app to see if it forces any updates. Ensure your device is plugged in or fully charged.
• Audio check: Plug in headphones or earbuds with a built-in microphone. This often improves sound quality and prevents echoes[59]. Headphones also help you hear the interviewers clearly without background noise[59]. Test them in a dummy call: record yourself or use Zoom’s test function to make sure the mic picks up your voice well.
• Video check: Test your camera. Is the image clear, not grainy? Built-in laptop cams can be okay, but if it looks poor, you might invest in a basic HD USB webcam. Look at yourself on camera – is the angle straight on? (You might need to prop your laptop on books so the camera is at eye-level, not looking up your nose.) Ensure your face is centered in the frame, and you don’t have to hunch or lean awkwardly.
• Practice with the platform: If you’ve never used WebEx or Google Meet or whatever the company is using, do a test run with a friend. Familiarize yourself with mute/unmute, screen sharing (in case you need to present), and how to join the meeting. On Zoom, find the settings to touch up appearance or adjust lighting if needed.
• Plan a backup: Technology can still fail. Get ready for it. Have the interviewer’s contact (phone or email) handy so if you get disconnected, you can reach out immediately. Perhaps have the meeting link also accessible on your phone as a backup; you could rejoin via mobile if your computer crashes (at least for audio, if not video). Mention at the start, “In case we get disconnected, I will try to rejoin immediately, and I have my phone ready as backup.”

By doing the above at least a day in advance, you reduce stress on interview day. On the day, join the meeting a few minutes early (not too early – often you can’t join until host lets you in, but be ready to click join at maybe 1-2 minutes before). Timeliness is just as important virtually as in person[60].

Set the Stage: Environment and Lighting

Your interview space doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be quiet, well-lit, and distraction-free.

• Choose a quiet area: Inform roommates/family of your interview time so they can remain quiet. Silence your phone (or put it in another room). If you have pets, see if you can place them where they won’t disturb you (no barking dogs or cat jumping on keyboard). Close windows to minimize outside noise (sirens, lawnmowers, etc.).
• Neutral background: An ideal background is clean and uncluttered. A blank wall, or perhaps a tidy room with some neutral decor (like a bookshelf or plant) is fine. Avoid having a busy or messy background – it’s distracting and looks unprofessional. Zoom backgrounds (the virtual kind) can be iffy: a plain virtual background or your company’s logo might be okay, but the fake beach scene is not[61]. If your actual background isn’t great, a subtle virtual background or the “blur” effect is an option – test it to ensure it doesn’t glitch around your hair or edges too much.
• Lighting is key: Position yourself so that light is coming towards your face, not from behind. Natural light from a window in front of you is great, or use a lamp behind your computer to illuminate you. Overhead light alone can cause shadows (and weird coloring). Avoid sitting with your back to a bright window – you’ll appear as a silhouette[62]. If using a lamp, a soft white bulb is flattering; you can even place a piece of white paper below your face (out of view) to bounce light up and soften shadows.
• Camera framing: As mentioned, camera at eye level is best (use books or a stand to elevate laptop). Frame yourself from about mid-chest up. Too far away and you appear distant; too close and every pore is on display.
• Chair and posture: Use a comfortable chair that doesn’t swivel too much (to resist fidgeting). Sit up straight but in a relaxed, confident pose. Both feet on the ground can help you maintain good posture. Resist the urge to lean back or slouch – you want to convey energy and engagement.
• Avoid visual distractions: Wear solid colors, preferably. Busy patterns or jangly jewelry might not come across well on camera or could cause visual artifacts. Also, disable any on-screen pop-up notifications on your computer that could flash during the call (close email, Teams, etc., or use Do Not Disturb mode). You don’t want a personal message popping up mid-interview share screen, or the constant ding of messages.

Consider doing a quick 360 of your area: what might the camera accidentally catch? Remove any inappropriate or overly personal items from view (that Bob Marley poster or your laundry pile should not be in the background).

Dress for Success (Yes, Fully Dressed!)

Dress as you would for an in-person interview at that company. At minimum, business casual. Often, business formal (suit/blazer) for more formal industries. It’s better to be slightly overdressed than under.

• Head to toe: It’s tempting to dress nicely on top and wear PJs or shorts off camera. But accidents happen (you might need to stand up unexpectedly). Also, wearing pants or full proper attire can actually make you feel more prepared and professional[63]. It psychologically signals “this is a real interview, take it seriously,” which can boost your confidence and mindset.
• Avoid overly bright colors or flashy patterns: They can sometimes look strange on video. Solid, softer colors are safe. Also avoid all-white or all-black tops if possible (white can glare, black can pixelate under some webcams). A jewel tone or blue, gray, etc., tends to render well.
• Grooming: Camera can accentuate shine, etc. Ensure your face isn’t too shiny (a bit of powder for those who wear makeup, or simply blot skin). If you wear glasses, test lighting to avoid glare on them – you might adjust angle of your light or tilt glasses slightly down. Hair should be neat; if you have longer hair, consider pulling it back so you’re not tempted to touch it.

Dressing professionally also shows respect to the interviewers. Even though you’re at home, you’re signaling “I’m treating this as importantly as if I were in your office.”

Eye Contact and Body Language

This is a big one: in person, we’re taught to maintain eye contact. On video, that translates to looking at the camera some of the time. It feels a bit odd, because your instinct is to look at the faces on screen. And you should, to read their expressions – but when you are speaking, try to frequently glance into the camera lens. That gives the effect of eye contact to them[64][65].

• The 80/20 rule: Look at the camera about 80% when you’re talking, 20% glancing at their faces to gauge reaction. When listening, you can mostly look at the screen (at their face) plus occasional camera glances.
• Facial expressions: Smile when appropriate, nod to show you’re engaged. Be careful not to let your face “rest” into a frown or look blank – on video, you might need to slightly exaggerate positive cues like nodding and smiling to come across well, since video can dampen the energy.
• Posture and hands: Sit up as mentioned; leaning slightly forward can actually convey engagement. You can definitely use hand gestures while speaking if that’s natural to you – just keep them within the camera frame and not too wild. Gestures can actually make you appear more dynamic and help emphasize points, but ensure they’re not distracting. If you tend to fidget (click pen, etc.), remove those temptations.
• Don’t stare too intensely: Balancing camera look and screen look will naturally break it up. Continuous unblinking staring can seem unnatural, so it’s fine to occasionally look away thoughtfully as you answer a question (much as you would in person). Just avoid constantly looking down or away as that can seem like you’re distracted.
• Active listening cues: On video, some cues (like small “mm-hm” sounds) might get cut off or could accidentally interrupt due to lag. Instead, rely more on visual cues – nodding, giving a thumbs up if appropriate, or saying “I understand” when they finish speaking. Try not to cut someone off; because of lag, wait a second after you think they’re done talking to be sure.

One trick: place the video windows of the interviewers as close to your webcam as possible (if the software allows you to move them). This way when you look at their face, your eyes are still near the camera. On Zoom, you could use “gallery view” and put the window up near your webcam.

Mind the Mute and Other Zoom Etiquette

If it’s a panel interview with multiple people or a long session, you might need to mute when you’re not speaking to avoid feedback or background noise. But be cautious:

• If it’s just a one-on-one or small group, you probably can stay unmuted unless there’s noise. Mute only if necessary, because forgetting to unmute when you start talking is awkward (it happens a lot).
• If you do mute, have a big reminder note to unmute when you answer. Zoom has a spacebar-hold-to-temporarily-unmute feature; practice that if needed.
• Don’t multitask. Close any other apps or browser tabs. Interviewers can tell if you’re clicking or looking elsewhere. Treat it like you’re in-person – be fully present.
• If you need to reference notes, it’s okay to have a few bullet points or your resume printed out off-screen. But do not read off a script. Glancing occasionally is fine (like checking your notes for questions to ask them, or a stat you wanted to mention), but if your eyes keep darting to your notes or you read a long-winded answer verbatim, it’s noticeable. Practice answering using your notes as just a backup.
• Address technical issues calmly if they occur. If a video freezes or you miss something, politely ask them to repeat: “I’m sorry, the connection froze for a moment – could you please repeat the last part?” They know tech issues happen[66][67]. What they observe is how you handle it. Panicking or getting flustered is worse than the issue itself. Usually, people are forgiving of minor tech hiccups[68].

Also, practice pausing briefly after the interviewer finishes speaking or after you finish – sometimes a slight lag could cause you to talk over each other. If it happens, don’t sweat it: just say “Oops, sorry – please go ahead,” with a smile. A bit of polite turn-taking goes a long way.

Engage and Build Rapport Through the Screen

One concern with video interviews is the challenge of building rapport compared to in-person. You can still foster a connection:

• Use names and smile: If multiple people, address them by name when answering if appropriate (“Great question, Sarah…”). It personalizes the interaction. A warm smile and a bit of friendliness (like a positive tone) can humanize the digital divide.
• Small talk is okay (to a point): At the start, they might ask “How are you doing? Hearing/seeing us okay?” Reply positively, maybe a quick personal remark like “Yes, all good. Happy to be speaking with you all – thanks for taking the time.” If they chit-chat (“How’s the weather there?” etc.), engage briefly. It can break the ice.
• Show enthusiasm: It’s harder to convey energy through a screen. You might need to amp up your enthusiasm slightly more than in person. That doesn’t mean yelling or being unnatural, but let your excitement about the role and company show in your voice and facial expressions. Even a line like “I’ve really been looking forward to this discussion” (if true) at the beginning sets a positive vibe.
• Lean in when listening: This subtle body language can convey interest.
• Find commonality if possible: If you notice something in their background (like a framed diploma from your alma mater or a book you also read), you can very briefly and naturally comment if the moment allows (“I see a University of X diploma on your wall – I went there too, small world!”). These human moments can stick, but don’t force it if nothing obvious.

Keep your focus on the camera as your connection to them. It’s easy for your eyes to drift to your own video (we all do it), but try not to fixate on yourself. If needed, hide your self-view once you’re set up so you aren’t distracted by how you look and can focus on the interviewers.

Handle Group or Panel Video Interviews

When multiple people are interviewing you on a call, it can get tricky.

• Gallery view: if possible, use gallery view so you can see all panelists at once (if there aren’t too many). This way you catch nonverbal cues from everyone.
• Eye contact rotation: When answering, start by looking at the person who asked the question (or their camera square), but also glance at the others occasionally so you engage everyone.
• Names and cues: It’s fine to ask for a name again if you miss it (especially if not labeled onscreen). Jot down who’s who if you can. Use names when addressing their question: “Yes, John, that’s a great point…” This shows attentiveness.
• Pace yourself: In group calls, slight delays can cause people to talk over each other. After you finish an answer, wait a beat; if you start speaking and someone else does too, just politely yield: “Oh, sorry – go ahead.” If you need to interject or if two start at once, it’s okay to politely assert, “I’ll answer Susan’s question first, then I’d love to hear what you were going to say, Tom.” Being poised in these moments demonstrates good meeting etiquette and communication skill.
• Engage all: Occasionally direct something to the group: “I’m not sure how that process works currently at your company, but I’d be eager to learn from all of you if I join the team.” This shows you’re mindful of everyone there, not just the main questioner.

Handle One-Way or Pre-Recorded Video Interviews

Sometimes companies use systems like HireVue or Spark Hire where you record answers to prompts with no live interviewer. This can feel awkward. Tips for those:

• Treat it seriously (dress up, good environment, etc.) as above.
• Usually you get a practice question to get used to it – use that to adjust camera and audio and warm up.
• Look at the camera when responding (since no person to talk to).
• Keep your energy up, smile – it’s even more crucial here to appear engaged, since the “human” element is missing.
• There might be a time limit or single take or maybe a chance to re-record – know the rules ahead. If only one take, take a breath before you start speaking to gather thoughts (you might have a short prep time per question).
• It’s weird not getting feedback nods – so you have to have faith in your answer. Don’t trail off. Finish confidently, then stop recording or hit next as instructed.
• Some systems allow you to watch your recording – focus on content rather than self-critique. If allowed multiple takes, don’t go overboard redoing 10 times. 1-2 takes for practice and then a final one is usually fine.

Follow-Up Etiquette for Video Interviews

After a virtual interview, the follow-up is similar to in-person:

• Send individualized thank-you emails within 24 hours to each interviewer (or one email to the main organizer expressing thanks to the group, if you don’t have individual emails). Mention something specific from the conversation to show it’s not a generic note.
• Reflect on what went well or not. If something technical went awry, you could acknowledge it in the thank you briefly: “Thank you for your patience when my audio cut out. I appreciate the understanding and enjoyed learning more about the team.”
• If you promised to send something (maybe a portfolio piece or reference), do so promptly.

The Silver Linings of Video Interviews

While video interviews have challenges, they also offer some advantages:

• You can have notes easily accessible. Just keep them bullet-pointed and don’t rely on reading them verbatim. Sticky notes around your screen or a one-page summary in front of you can be helpful safety nets.
• You’re in your comfort space. Use that to boost confidence. You controlled the environment, unlike an unfamiliar office.
• Travel time saved = more energy. You didn’t commute, so ideally you can channel that saved energy into enthusiasm for the interview.
• Shows off remote work skills: By acing a video call, you subtly demonstrate you’re adept with remote communication – a plus if the job involves virtual teamwork or potential remote work.

One final piece of advice: Practice, practice, practice. The more you simulate video calls – be it with friends or doing a mock interview with a career coach over Zoom – the more natural it becomes. You’ll work out technical kinks and get comfortable expressing yourself to a camera.

In summary, treat a video interview with the same gravity and preparation as an in-person interview, plus add a layer of tech and environmental prep. By doing so, you’ll come across polished, professional, and ready for anything – whether on Zoom or in the room.

Good luck, and may your next video interview be a resounding success!

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